Jerusalem The Old City The Urban Fabric and Geopolitical Implications A report by the International Peace and Cooperation Center Jerusalem The Old City The Urban Fabric and Geopolitical Implications Contributors Rassem Khamaisi Rami Nasrallah Robert Brooks Michael Yunan Meir Margalit Abdalla Owais Jerusalem Old City: Urban Fabric and Geopolitical Implications Intenational Peace and Cooperation Center: Publication XVII Maps: Abdalla Owais Photos: Meir Margalit, Basel Quttaineh Layout and Cover Design: Alternative Business Solutions - www.abs.ps Printed and Bound in Ramallah by: Alternative Business Solutions - www.abs.ps © 2009 ISBN 965-7283-16-7 The International Peace and Cooperation Center 21 Sheikh Jarrah, Ard Assamar, Isawiyya Road, Jerusalem P.O.Box: 24162 E-Mail address: [email protected] Tel: +972 (0) 2 5811992 or +972 (0) 2 5812032 Fax: +972 (0) 2 5400522 2 International Peace and Cooperation Center Table of Contents List of Maps and Tables .......................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 1 .................................................................................................................................. 8 Challenges in Administering the Old City The Physical Structure of the Old City ................................................................................................................... 9 Protection of the Old City’s Layers and Spaces ...............................................................................................11 The Old City and its Surroundings ........................................................................................................................ 12 Jerusalem Society in the Old City ........................................................................................................................... 13 Traditional Law and Informal Social Structures ............................................................................................. 16 The Social Mix .................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Population Density ......................................................................................................................................................... 22 Private and Public Space .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Preserving the Right to Administer the City .................................................................................................... 25 Re-planning the Old City ............................................................................................................................................ 25 Social and Public Services and the Provision of Infrastructure ............................................................. 26 The Economy of the Administration ..................................................................................................................... 31 Between Residency and Citizenship ..................................................................................................................... 33 Social Welfare in the Old City ................................................................................................................................... 33 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Chapter 2 ................................................................................................................................ 38 The Assassination of Place: Resisting Creeping Urbanization and Gentrification in the Old City of Jerusalem and its Surroundings Deterioration and Urban Rehabilitation--a Conceptual Framework .................................................. 39 Urbanism and Renovation Programs in Jerusalem ...................................................................................... 41 Strategies for Renewing the Old City ................................................................................................................... 50 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 3 ................................................................................................................................ 54 The Matrix of Israeli Control in the Muslim and Christian Quarters of the Old City of Jerusalem Methods for Seizing Property ................................................................................................................................... 57 Settler Ideology ................................................................................................................................................................ 59 Seizing the space............................................................................................................................................................... 60 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................................... 61 Chapter 4 ................................................................................................................................ 62 Old city, Future Scenarios The Hebron Model Applied to Jerusalem: Worst Case Scenario ........................................................... 63 Options and Alternatives of Geopolitical Scenarios for the Future of Jerusalem ........................ 64 A Society in Withdrawal Scenario ................................................................................................ 67 Successful Engagement Scenario: Cooperation and Integration ........................................................ 68 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................................................... 69 Appendices ............................................................................................................................ 70 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 79 1 Jerusalem Old City: Urban Fabric and Geopolitical Implications List of Maps Map 1 ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Old City Quarters Map 2 ...................................................................................................................................... 15 Holy and Historical Sites in the Old City Map 3a .................................................................................................................................... 17 Settler Expansion in the Old City Map 3b .................................................................................................................................... 18 Expansion of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City Map 4 ...................................................................................................................................... 23 Population Density in the Old City (Person/Donum) Map 5a .................................................................................................................................... 27 Community Services Location in the Old City Map 5b .................................................................................................................................... 28 Social Centers, Association and the Families Courts used by Palestinians Map 6a .................................................................................................................................... 29 Main Routes in the Old City Map 6b .................................................................................................................................... 30 Main Tourist’s Routes and Attractions in the Old City Map 7 ...................................................................................................................................... 32 Palestinian Electricity main cable in the Old City Map 8 ...................................................................................................................................... 35 Friction Areas in the Old City List of Tables Table 1.1 .................................................................................................................................. 22 Old City Population Distribution and Density Table 2.1 .................................................................................................................................. 43 Population in the Old City 1967-2006 Table 2.2 .................................................................................................................................. 44 Population Density and Construction in the Old City Table 2.3 .................................................................................................................................